Billy Ringo

Donald Sutherland in the Dirty Dozen.

Have a feeling with the significant increase in military hardware rolling into Ukraine---the ****'s about to hit the fan. Good.

About a year ago there was a solo shooter at a local school here in Nashville, The Covenant School. First arrival police went in immediately and worked the building as quickly as possible, lives were lost but few compared to what it could have been. Have heard their reaction was textbook and they saved a lot of kids by their actions. Maybe the failures of the past are studied and lessons learned. (Have a friend who had two kids in the school that day, both unharmed but obviously shook.(

If it is ISIS or some Islamic offshoot based in a remote part of Russia, will Russia have the military resources available to counter this threat and bring it under control. Especially if it extends to other territories. Basically--has Russia opened up a two front battle? (Along with their trouble making in Africa.) And, if it is Islamic based, will that have any effect on Chechnya's support of Russia with regards to Ukraine. This could be interesting...

Is it remotely possible that, with several re-iterations of development, drones coupled with AI will be so advanced and cost efficient to produce in mass that warfare simply isn't tenable on the battlefield? Autonomous battles that don't gain nor hold ground. Simply devastate and kill other technologies. Tanks, ships, aircraft can't reasonably be protected. Unlike the know-how and cost of nuclear weapons, drones will be available to virtually any force at some point in the future. (Technology advancements are typically exponential, so what we see in 10 years will likely be "decades" ahead of what we see today.) Just thinking outside of the box here...

If your adversary has little to no concern about using AI/autonomous weapons on the battlefield due to ethical constraints, you may likely die on the battlefield while debating what should or should not be targeted. The ethical AI debate may be mute if your adversary has the ability to use similar technology. Based on the low value placed on human life by the Russians and the Chinese, as well as most terrorist organizations, I doubt they'll have any hesitation sending an AI targeted death package. Thankful for the contributions and commentary from so many on this forum, amazing and highly informative discussions.

3,000 thanks to everyone for all the great discussion, debate and invaluable experience and knowledge shared over the past 18 months. God bless the Ukrainians.

To complicate things further: technology, AI, etc. are all advancing at such an accelerating rate that we don't even know what questions to ask or threats to combat that will need to be addressed 1-3 years in the future. Much less 3+ years away.

When North Korea has you by the balls, you've got a problem.

Probably missed the fact that Ukraine didn't go into Russia and massacre civilians at a music festival, cut off the heads of babies, torture, burn, etc. That might have something to do with it.

Or, it might put all the bickering and infighting on the backburner and bring the Israelis together to protect the homeland and crush external enemies. This isn't going to end well for Hamas.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/exclusive-interview-with-ukraines-spy-boss-from-his-dc-hotel-room Interesting answers from from the War Zone's interview with Budanov, does he know something--or just stirring the pot? TWZ: Who killed former Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin? KB: I wouldn’t be in a hurry to say he’s killed. TWZ: You think he might be alive? KB: I just wouldn't rush with that question. I don't possess any confirmation. TWZ: You don’t have confirmation that he’s dead yet? KB: We don’t possess that.

Hurumph. Tis but a mere flesh wound

Damaged, captured by the Brits, sunk by a pier, raised and then scuttled. (Per wiki.) Close enough for government Navy work.

If the Russian sub was taken out, it would be the first time a military submarine was destroyed by a hostile adversary since WWII. This isn't trivial.

Am not one to decipher whether to call one who served a warrior, a soldier, an intel or any other moniker. But as one who never served I do have three words for those that did: Respect. Thank you.

Saw the following earlier today on another site, regarding Prighozhin. Obviously just rumor, but is an interesting consideration. https://t.me/Separ13_13/18701 Today I was talking to a friend, he is an employee of the Wagner PMC, and he said to me an absolutely brilliant phrase. He was personally acquainted with the First*, and the First once told him: "If you do not see my severed head, then I am alive." Know.

Russians only know what is fed to them and, based on that limited and censored information, may not seem to be a real cause for concern.

Hypothetical: If NATO/US significantly reduced military support for Ukraine, could Ukraine go into defensive mode at the current borders and hold off any Russian offensive based on current and short-term (6-12 months) Russian capabilities? If Ukraine was basically left to it's on devices, would this war turn into a stalemate? (Let's HOPE they aren't left to their own devices.)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/china-now-sells-fewer-goods-to-the-us-than-mexico-or-canada-do/ar-AA1eXT0N?rc=1&ocid=socialshare&cvid=9d99c6d2b63c446881a696f3081e2664&ei=20 Chinese imports to the US down 25% YTD since last year. That's a big shift, more pressure on the Chinese government, less US dependence on China, and more diversity in the US supply chain.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/07/27/republicans-support-ukraine-war/ Ever since Russia’s full-scale invasion more than a year ago, the anti-Ukraine right has been working to convince the American people and the Republican Party that it is not in the United States’ interest to support Ukraine. They are failing miserably. The House recently held its first votes on aid to Ukraine since the GOP took over in January — and on vote after vote, the vast majority of Republicans repeatedly voted to beat back amendments proposed by the anti-Ukraine faction. I'm still up on my hill, US support for Ukraine is solid.

https://www.newsweek.com/2023/07/21/exclusive-cias-blind-spot-about-ukraine-war-1810355.html Newsweek article on the CIA's involvement with Ukraine/Russia, pre-invasion until current. Reads a little like a CIA infomercial but a few interesting nuggets, pre-war agreements with Putin regarding rules of engagement/delivery of certain types of weapons, US on the ground involvement in Ukraine (CIA "black-ops" yes, US military no), states bluntly that Ukraine blew up the pipeline. A lot of the info, IMO, is questionable and certainly slanted towards CIO self-promotion.

Since it was one of my comments that started some of the recent banter, I would like to clarify my post regarding red-lines and spineless positions. My frustration is centered around Russia's use of force against purely civilian targets, with seemingly no counter other than some verbal condemnations and defensive weapons against missiles/drones. IMO, right or wrong, Russia should be clearly warned that attacks against civilian targets will result in specific actions against the delivery vehicles of those actions. (If militarily possible which is out of my area of expertise.) NATO/US would supply a limited number of weapons that would be used to specifically target the ships/subs/planes that delivery civilian carnage. It's not about using direct NATO/US forces, nuclear forces, etc. But simply some kind of publicly stated red-line followed by a tangible response, if militarily possible, to make the Russians think twice before blowing up a cafe or apartment building. Peace.

I'm not going to get in a multi-thread pissing match so this reply will be it, but there are things that, in my opinion, could be done. 1. Specific ideas: be very specific that if Russia bombs civilian living quarters or any infrastructure that has virtually no military value--then suitable weapons will be delivered that will target that particular source of the missile/drone etc. even if it is long range and not currently part of the NATO/US delivery assets. I'm sure that's easier said than done, but at least give Ukraine the ability to target that particular Russian asset. 2. I'm no military historian, but I have to believe there have been civilizations/countries that meekly/spinelessly surrendered that now cease to exist.

So worried about Russia's reaction, Russia's red-lines and what might they do if "X" happens. What about NATO's red-lines? EU red-lines? US red-lines? They've bombed and killed citizens. Intentionally targeted civilian infrastructure and residential areas. Raped. Tortured. Kidnapped children. Blown up dams resulting in the destruction of 1,000s of acres of prime farmland, blown up ports important to international shipping of food supplies and who knows what else. Does NATO or the US even have red-lines? Are we so GD'md spineless to even dare state them publicly and hold the Russians accountable? I've negotiated with major retailers for over 3 decades and one thing I've learned without exception--they'll keep asking for more until they are finally told NO. A hard NO, and not before. Maybe it's time to draw a hard line in the concrete, state it publicly and take control back from the Russians.